I have used Sage in the past, but don't currently have it installed on my system. I have been asked by a client to use Sage Drive - their cloud option.
We have been round the houses trying to sort the login out. Can anyone please advise what i need to do. Do I need Sage 50 installed on my system, if so, which version. The company is one company, but with 10 outlets that are all dealt with separately in Sage.
I use Sage, but at present not Sage Drive. However, I get all the blurb from Sage about it! Yes, my understanding is that you need to have the same version of Sage installed on your computer as they are using. This is the guidance from Sage:
This doesn't move your existing Sage Accounts data. It's still held on your computer or network, but any future changes you make to your data are also uploaded to the secure copy in the cloud.
2. Invite others to access your data
This is optional. If you have colleagues or an accountant that you want to allow to access your live data, you can invite them through the Sage Drive Management Centre.
3. Connect to your data from another location
You and any invited colleagues can now connect to your data via the Internet on any computer that has the same version of Sage Accounts installed. This gives you access to work on your data as though you were at your original data location. Read more >>
4. Syncing data
As you and your colleagues work on your data, all changes are uploaded to the copy of your data in the cloud and then regularly downloaded to all other connected locations. This means you and your colleagues are always working on the latest version of your data.
Step 1 & is obviously for your client to do, then you (should) be able to do step 3!
Not having sage is an issue but not unsurmountable.
What is it that you are trying to do on sage? The final accounts? If so you will just need the right reports to be able to do it.
Can you visit the client to work from there? Perhaps not ideal.
Do they have good IT support? Are they on a server? You could get their IT bods to set up access to their server via a VPN connection. Thats what I have for one of my clients who uses a sage version that I dont have access to.
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Joanne
Winner of Bookkeeper of the Year 2015, 2016 & 2017
Thoughts are my own/not to be regarded as official advice,which should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.
You should check out answers with reference to the legal position
Thank you.
I will speak to them about the vpn. I've offered to work on-site but they are a little strapped for space, so it's not ideal for them.
Just seems a little strange that its cloud accounting but still needs a desktop version. I've looked at the prices of sage and for just one client, it is not viable.
It's the bookkeeping they want doing Joanne, but just the income and bank recs, not expenses. They have a bookkeeper, but it's just too much for her.
Thanks for your answers. Any other advice would be much appreciated.
Debbie
Ah, the cloud software that isnt! Not really. If you want truely cloud for sage - its sage one. But I wouldnt recommend you move such a client across to that on the back of the info to date.
Im not at all technically minded but when they set up the VPN access on my office PC for a client they advised that I would need to leave the PC on in the Accounts office. So they would need to have a PC sitting there for your use, albeit from home. Dont 'Shut down', use 'log off', although every now and again I get someone to do a re-start so that the appropriate windows updates etc are being done.
You will need a different user name to the other guys using sage. Never use the same user name at the same time as someone else as that can massively corrupt the data - I took one on that had just such a problem, caused errors with 40,000 entries and took an age to sort out. (was fatal to the software!).
One thing you cannot do when someone else is logged in, usually, is error correction, VAT returns, backups. So sometimes its good to be able to access the system when everyone else is on their way home!
Depending on the version of sage you can do Bank feeds, including via credit card accounts. V22 onwards if I recall correctly.
If the expenses are excel based you can also do a dump (ie import) from an excel/csv file direct into sage.
Re the income - Im assuming its via some sort of tills software (you mentioned outlets), so if you can extract EOD Z's to a csv file, sorted to allow for differing VAT rates and for departments if they use them, that can be dumped easily into sage too - will need to be end of day to by MTD compliant (eventually).
Cant think of anything else off the top of my head just now. Let us know how you get on with it.
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Hi Helen
Long time no see. There was a thread on here about Accountex the other day - are you going this year?
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Joanne
Winner of Bookkeeper of the Year 2015, 2016 & 2017
Thoughts are my own/not to be regarded as official advice,which should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.
You should check out answers with reference to the legal position
Hi Joanne
I usual have a look on the forum every couple of days - by which time all the questions have been answered!!
Accountex - Im in two minds at present. I would like to go, as I have found it really useful the last few years, but my colleague who normally comes with me cant come this year, so cant decide whether to make a solo trip. What was the final decision for you guys? It may influence my decision if there was going to be a meet up
re Accountex. Myself, Joanne, Doug and Debbie are possibles at the moment) I'll be making a final decision next week but I've never been and I'd very much like to go. It looks like the first day will be better for Debbie and Doug and if I go, the first day will be fine for me too.
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John
Any advice given is for general guidance and professional advice should be sought applicable to your circumstances.
I will have to decide next week too,am still waiting on sister outlaw telling me when she wants me to look after my nephew. But no dates then Im busy!!!!!!!
Certainly if I go (would like to) then the first day would be ok for me.
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Joanne
Winner of Bookkeeper of the Year 2015, 2016 & 2017
Thoughts are my own/not to be regarded as official advice,which should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.
You should check out answers with reference to the legal position
You've made me make a decision, and I've registered for Accountex, with the intention of going on the first day - I could do either, I have a feeling that I'm closer to London than any of you, so fairly flexible!
Let me know what the decisions are, I would be up for a meet up with any/all of you!
I have registered for Accountex, but not booked the hotel as I am still not 100% sure I will be going because I am away the week before, will try and make a final decision shortly.
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Doug
These are only my opinions of how I see things and therefore should not be taken as advice
Just had confirmation of something Ive been waiting on for the last couple of months.
gang will make it!
